In the Bible of contemporary gospel music, Nick Cave’s new pair of albums prove he’s a Major Prophet. Like David Eugene Edwards (of Sixteen Horsepower and Woven Hand), Cave’s brutal honesty, surreal symbolism, zeal for the sublime, and righteous anger at himself and the reset of humanity sets him up as one of rock and roll’s equivalents to John the Baptist crying in the wilderness, making way for the return of the Lord even as he decries those who claim... Read more
Welcome to the new all-in-one site for Looking Closer. Looking for the blog? It’s called “The Journal.” Looking for reviews? We’re transferring them as fast as we can. Most of the film reviews are up, but the music reviews… well… we’ve barely scratched the surface there yet. Please be patient. Looking for information on my books? You’ll find it, although there’s still a lot of organizing to do. Many many more features are in the works. If you need access... Read more
[This reflection on Man on Wire was originally published at Good Letters, the daily blog for Image.] • In a photograph from her recent wedding, my friend Tara stands on one side of the empty dance floor. On the other, Bryan, her groom, leans forward in his chair. Tara is about to reach out her hand in a gesture of invitation. No doubt about it—he’s ready to respond. Their gazes are locked in a fierce line. The tension in that open... Read more
It’s the most joyous time of the year. Yes, I’m talking about Oscar season. (more…) Read more
My review of Ratatouille was originally published in June 2007 at Christianity Today Movies. – Attention, parents, kids, anybody who appreciates good movies and great food!Ratatouille is a feast so fantastic you’ll go running back for seconds. And if you pay close attention, you’ll also see that it’s a film that tells two great stories at the same time. The first story is what you’ll see on the big screen. And the second—at least the way I see it—is a more subtle, almost... Read more
My review of Evening was originally published at Christianity Today Movies. – Stand and stare in awe at the poster for Lajos Koltai’s new film Evening. Look at that impressive cast list. Vanessa Redgrave! Meryl Streep! Glenn Close! Claire Danes! Toni Collette! All in the same movie! It gets better: Redgrave gets to share a scene with her real-life daughter Natasha Richardson. And the mother/daughter goodness doesn’t stop there: Streep plays a senior citizen who appears in flashback played by her real-life... Read more
This review was originally published at Christianity Today. – Closer, the new film from Mike Nichols (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate), has a lot in common with the “smoker’s lung” billboard. You know the one — there’s a cigarette in the left frame, and a blackened, diseased lung on the right. It’s a troubling image. You’re driving along sipping coffee or tea, you see the picture, and you choke. Nobody wants to see such ugliness. But it works.... Read more
This review of Letters from Iwo Jima is published at Christianity Today Movies. – “Am I digging my own grave?” young Saigo wonders as he helps his fellow Japanese soldiers shovel out bunkers in the dark sand beneath Mt. Surabachi. And because we know the outcome of the Battle of Iwo Jima, we can make an educated guess at the answer to his question. In an unprecedented work of ambition and vision, Clint Eastwood has released two films in one... Read more
This review was originally published at Christianity Today. – Some people live lives in which their prayers are answered, their dreams fulfilled, their needs met, and their lives richly blessed. Others live lives of frustration, longing to hear God’s voice, carrying excruciating burdens and struggling to maintain their belief that their Creator cares … or that he exists at all. Million Dollar Baby looks like a boxing movie, but at its heart, it is the story of a spiritually frustrated man.... Read more
The Two Towers is packed end-to-end with helter-skelter action, jaw-dropping New Zealand scenery, standard-setting animation, a lush and provocative soundtrack, and enough adventure for three or four typical films of its genre. Do you need more information? My review is at ChristianityToday.com. But if you want the detailed review … the mad ramblings of a Tolkien fan and a nit-picker … settle in for a long read. These are the thoughts that buzzed in my head after I caught the sneak... Read more
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